The purpose of this research study is to determine the physical brain changes in people with cervical dystonia after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery and as compared to healthy controls. We will do this by measuring your body's response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before and/or after DBS surgery.

TMS is a non-invasive procedure during which you sit in a chair that looks like one you would find at the dentist's office. A nerve stimulator is placed on the wrist of the right hand to stimulate the median nerve; the intensity of the nerve stimulator is gradually increased until the right thumb begins to twitch. A magnetic coil is placed on the scalp on one side of the head, overlying the brain's motor cortex, to stimulate the brain's output to the muscles in the opposite hand.

If you are a control subject, and therefore will not/have not have DBS surgery, we will measure the body's response to TMS for comparison purposes. We expect that the electrical differences in the brain may be related to the physical benefits some patients with primary cervical dystonia receive from DBS surgery.

The body's response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) [ Time Frame: From 1 day to 10 months, based on eligibility ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The purpose of this research study is to determine the physical brain changes in people with cervical dystonia after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. We will do this by measuring your body's response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before and/or after DBS surgery, unless you are a control subject. If you are a dystonia control subject (not planning DBS), we will measure your body's response to TMS on two occasions. If you are healthy control subject, we will measure your body's response to TMS on one occasion.

These tests should help us learn whether the electrical changes in the brain have any relation to the physical benefits some patients with primary cervical dystonia receive from DBS surgery.

Subjects who have undergone or plan to undergo DBS surgery for cervical dystonia

Procedure: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

We will test the sensory system and its interaction with the motor cortex by using TMS. For these tests, you will sit in a chair that looks like one you would find at the dentist's office. A nerve stimulator will be placed on the wrist of your right hand to stimulate the median and ulnar nerves. The intensity of the nerve stimulator will be gradually increased until the right thumb begins to twitch. A magnetic coil will be placed on the scalp on the left side of your head, overlying the brain's motor cortex, to stimulate the brain's output to the muscles in the opposite hand. This procedure will be repeated using the left wrist and the right side of your head.

Cervical Dystonia: Control Subjects

Subjects who DO NOT plan to undergo DBS surgery for cervical dystonia

Procedure: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

We will test the sensory system and its interaction with the motor cortex by using TMS. For these tests, you will sit in a chair that looks like one you would find at the dentist's office. A nerve stimulator will be placed on the wrist of your right hand to stimulate the median and ulnar nerves. The intensity of the nerve stimulator will be gradually increased until the right thumb begins to twitch. A magnetic coil will be placed on the scalp on the left side of your head, overlying the brain's motor cortex, to stimulate the brain's output to the muscles in the opposite hand. This procedure will be repeated using the left wrist and the right side of your head.

Healthy Controls

Healthy control subjects who do not have dystonia.

Procedure: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

We will test the sensory system and its interaction with the motor cortex by using TMS. For these tests, you will sit in a chair that looks like one you would find at the dentist's office. A nerve stimulator will be placed on the wrist of your right hand to stimulate the median and ulnar nerves. The intensity of the nerve stimulator will be gradually increased until the right thumb begins to twitch. A magnetic coil will be placed on the scalp on the left side of your head, overlying the brain's motor cortex, to stimulate the brain's output to the muscles in the opposite hand. This procedure will be repeated using the left wrist and the right side of your head.

Subjects will be recruited from the University of Florida Center for Movement Disorders & Neurorestoration out-patient population, patient care meetings, the UFMDC research database, and during the course of normal clinical care. Additionally, we plan to enroll subjects from other DBS centers. Patients who are diagnosed with primary (or predominantly primary) cervical dystonia and are candidates for DBS surgery, or who have already had DBS surgery, will be identified as candidates for this research study.

Control subjects will be recruited via advertising flyers in the local community.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01671527